This type of signing has been a long time coming for the notoriously cheap north London club, after a series of superstar departures left manager and professional European guy, Arsene Wenger, without a major talent for the first time in over a decade (the jury’s still out on Santi Cazorla.) Despite being a relatively successful manager who won the FA Cup in 2005, Wenger has recently come under fire for not doing enough to help retain top notch talents, like Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, and Emmanuel Adebeyor.

He’s gone and jumped the shark with this signing, though. With the help of Ozil’s German National teammate, Lucas Podolski, Wenger apparently convinced the 2010 World Cup standout to join the Gunners. Via the UK Mirror, “Wenger gives me the faith and I can develop further. I know what I can do and I know that I could make the grade with any club in the world because I am so convinced in myself, but if I don’t feel people have faith in me, then that is why I had to leave and at Arsenal, I feel I have this fully.”

It goes without saying — Wenger needed this heroic acquisition to save his job. Cue up the Indiana Jones music, because this move looks like Arsenal’s found the Arc.

In addition to the record fee (third most all time for the EPL), The Guardian has reported that “the 24-year-old has agreed to a five-year contract, which is worth a basic £150,000 a week, with bonuses on top,” making him one of the highest paid players in the sport. As a heady, European, attacking midfielder, Ozil’s game is quintessentially Arsenal (though his recent sponsorship deal with Adidas isn’t, as his new team rocks Nike through and through.)

“He is a great player,” Wenger said. “With proven quality at both club and international level. We have watched and admired him for some time as he has all the attributes I look for in an Arsenal player.” Let’s see if this will finally put Arsenal over the top, and in contention for another FA Cup in 2013-14.